Thursday 25 February 2016

Wednesday 24th February 2016

The highlight of the day was a Hawfinch seen flying through Troutsdale, about half a mile east of the Troutsdale Lodge.
Elsewhere the AMERICAN WIGEON remained at Scalby Mills, 27 Brambling and 2 Willow Tit were in New Dike, Seamer Tip while a Pochard, 11 Shoveler and 17 Gadwall were on the pool there.
Five Mediterranean Gull were seen at Holbeck, a Pink-footed Goose was at the Mere and 5 Curlew and 2 Oystercatcher were on Johnson’s Marsh.

Wednesday 24 February 2016

Tuesday 23rd February 2016

The drake AMERICAN WIGEON was at Scalby Mills along with 210 Wigeon, a Stonechat was in Jackson’s Bay, 15 Purple Sandpiper, 96 Turnstone and 2 Black-necked Grebe were in the Harbour and 9 Mediterranean Gull were at Holbeck.

Monday 22nd February 2016

Migration watch; 09.42 – 11.20hrs.
On the move (north unless stated) were 2 Red-throated Diver + 1 south, 2 Fulmar, 1 Gannet, 1 Black-headed Gull, 4 Common Gull + 21 south, 51 Herring Gull + 11 south, 2 Auk sp + 1 south and 1 Skylark south.
Elsewhere a fine drake Long-tailed Duck was found in Cornelian Bay where there were 3 Knot, a Grey Plover, a Ringed Plover, 80 Redshank, 12 Purple Sandpiper, 25 Turnstone, 15 Curlew and 10 Oystercatcher, the drake AMERICAN WIGEON was at Scalby Mills, 14 White-fronted Geese, 2 Goldeneye, 3 Shoveler, 3 Pink-footed Geese and an Egyptian Geese were at Wykeham South Lake, a Goosander was on the Mere, 100 Siskin were along Manor road, 2 Lapland Bunting were at Long Nab, a Stonechat was in Jackson’s Bay and a Black-necked Grebe was in the Harbour.

Sunday 21st February 2016

The drake AMERICAN WIGEON remained at Scalby Mills, at least one Black-necked Grebe was on the Harbour, a Curlew, 2 Oystercatcher, 46 Teal and 13 Wigeon were on Johnson’s Marsh and 6 Teal, a Goosander and 2 Oystercatcher were on Harwood Dale Lake.

Tuesday 16th – Saturday 20th February 2016

A rather quiet few days…

The 16th produced 105 Golden Plover, 4 Gadwall 3 Shoveler, 5 Goldeneye, 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 580 Common Gull, 169 Herring Gull, 80 Black-headed Gull and 53 Yellowhammer at Wykeham South Lake and a Brambling at Ings Farm.
On the 18th 11 Brambling and a Green Sandpiper were seen at Seamer Tip, 2 Snow Bunting were at Long Nab and a Raven and a Merlin were seen over Brow Moor.
Thursday 18th February 2016
A Black-necked Grebe in the Harbour, 14 White-fronted Geese and 3 Pink-footed Geese were at Wykeham South lake, a Chiffchaff was at Seamer sewage works, 4 Little Egret and 4 Dunlin were on Folkton Carr and 8 Gadwall, 6 Shoveler a Shelduck and 2 Oystercatcher at Seamer Tip were the pick of the reports on the 19th.
The 20th saw a Black-necked Grebe in the Harbour, a Goosander at the Mere and the return on the fine drake AMERICAN WIGEON to Scalby Mills after having presumably spent a little time at Castle Howard.

Monday 15th February 2016

Migration watch; 07.45 – 09.40hrs and 11.45 – 13.30hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 1 Red-throated Diver north, 3 Fulmar + 13 north, 11 Gannet + 24 north, 3 Cormorant, 3 Golden Plover, 1 Black-headed Gull, 6 Common Gull + 4 north, 8 Herring Gull + 34 north, 2 Great Black-backed Gull + 3 north and 5 Kittiwake + 1 north.
Elsewhere 2 Black-necked Grebe were in the Harbour, 200 Golden Plover were on New Ings, 2 White-fronted Geese, a Barnacle Goose, 4 Goldeneye, an argentatus Herring Gull and 13 Reed Bunting were at Wykeham South Lake, 300 Lapwing, 12 Golden Plover and 500 Starling were at Cayton Carr, 4 Shelduck, 12 Gadwall and 2 Shoveler were on Seamer Tip pool, 80 Lapwing, 30 Fieldfare and 30 Chaffinch were on Wykeham Ings and 10 Bullfinch were near Sawdon.

Saturday 13th – Sunday 14th February 2016

At Wykeham South Lake on the 13th were 13 White-fronted Geese, 2 Pink-footed geese, 6 Goldeneye, 3 Shoveler, 120 Lapwing and 25 Yellowhammer while a Brambling was seen at Ings Bridge.

The 13th produced 2 Black-necked Grebe in the Harbour, a Kingfisher on Seamer mead, 2 White-fronted Geese, a Barnacle goose, 6 Goldeneye, 382 Common Gull, 103 Lapwing and 6 Golden Plover. Twelve Goosander were on the Mere.

Friday 12th February 2016

Migration watch; 08.10 – 11.25hrs.
On the move (north unless stated) were 8 Red-throated Diver, 5 Fulmar + 2 south, 7 Gannet + 16 south, 6 Cormorant + 9 south, 3 Shag + 2 south, 1 Common Scoter + 2 south, 1 Goldeneye, 4 Black-headed Gull + 36 south, 12 Common Gull south, 1 argentatus Herring Gull, 21 Auk sp + 1 south and 1 Rock Pipit south.
At least one Lapland Bunting remained at Long Nab, 13 White-fronted Geese, 1 Pink-footed Goose, 1 Barnacle Goose, 1 Whooper Swan, 4 Goldeneye, 5 Shoveler, 9 Gadwall2 Pochard, 14 Tufted Duck and 10 Great Crested Grebe were at Wykeham South Lake with a Red-throated Diver found there in the evening being (not surprisingly) the first site record.
Late news from the 10th was of a Raven seen from the Wykeham Raptor Viewpoint.

Friday 12 February 2016

Thursday 11th February 2016

At Wykeham South Lake there were 13 White-fronted Geese, 1 Barnacle Goose, 2 Goldeneye, 37 Golden Plover, 1 Kingfisher and 32 Yellowhammer, 135 Pink-footed Geese flew north over Potter Brompton Carr (no general access), also there 24 Golden Plover flew east and 18 Snipe, 53 Lapwing and 2 Shelduck were present.
Two Black-necked Grebe were in the Harbour, the 2 Lapland Bunting were at Long Nab, 100 Fieldfare and 200 Linnet were on Cayton Carr, 12 Golden Plover were on Burn Howe Moor and a Jack Snipe was at Hollin Gill.

Wednesday 10th February 2016

On Potter Brompton Carr (no general access) there were 5 Jack Snipe, 1 Snipe, 6 Brambling and a Whooper Swan, single Snipe and Jack Snipe were along Taylor Way, nearby 12 Gadwall, 1 Shoveler, 4 Coot, 1 Shelduck and 2 Pink-footed Geese were at Seamer Tip.
On Wykeham Ings there were 35 Whooper Swan and an Egyptian Goose, 2 Egyptian Geese were at Wykeham South Lake, 28 Lesser Redpoll were on Hutton Buscel Carr and the 2 Lapland bunting were still at Long Nab.

Wednesday 10 February 2016

Tuesday 9th February 2016

Migration watch; 07.54 – 09.41hrs.On the move (south unless stated) were 6 Red-throated Diver + 1 north, 1 Fulmar, 51 Gannet + 4 north, 5 Cormorant, 1 Common Scoter north, 12 Black-headed Gull, 12 Common Gull + 4 north, 215 Herring Gull + 18 north including 1 argentatus, 14 Great Black-backed Gull + 2 north and 2 Guillemot + 1 north.
Offshore there were 9 Red-throated Diver while the 2 Lapland Bunting remained along with 18 Skylark.
Elsewhere 11 White-fronted, 2 Pink-footed and a Barnacle Goose, a Whooper Swan and 80 Lapwing were at Wykeham South Lake, 18 Wigeon and 14 Teal were on Johnson’s Marsh and 40 Siskin were in Prospect Park.

Monday 8th February 2016

At Long Nab the 2 Lapland Bunting remained and 13 Red-throated Diver were offshore.
A good count of 90 Brambling were on Willerby Carr, 35 Whooper Swan were still on Sherburn Ings, a Goosander, 4 Goldeneye, a Shoveler, a Snipe and 2 Oystercatcher were at Wykeham South Lake and a Shelduck was on Potter Brompton Carr.

Sunday 7th February 2016

A male Hen Harrier, the first of the year, west over Troutsdale Road, just to the north of Snainton.
At Wykeham South Lake there were 13 White-fronted Geese, 1 Barnacle Goose, 4 Pink-footed Geese and 7 Goldeneye. Two Lapland Bunting were still at Long Nab, 3 Little Egret were at Folkton, 1 Black-necked Grebe was in the Harbour, 2 Goosander were on Throxenby Mere and a Red Kite was seen to the north of Wykeham.

Saturday 6th February 2016

Migration watch; 08.00 – 10.15hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 7 Red-throated Diver + 2 north, 4 Fulmar + 1 north, 37 Gannet, 7 Cormorant + 1 north, 1 Shag, 1 male Merlin, 1 Golden Plover, 14 Black-headed Gull, 2 Common Gull + 4 north, 1 argentatus Herring gull north, 2 Auk sp + 7 north and 1 Alba.
The 2 Lapland Bunting remained in the area.
Elsewhere 2 Goosander were at the Mere.

Friday 5th February 2016

Present at Potter Brompton Carr (no general access) were 4 Jack Snipe, 5 Snipe and 2 Water Rail, 2 Pintail, 6 Goldeneye, 7 Shoveler, 3 Pink-footed Geese and an Oystercatcher were at Wykeham South Lake, a Goosander was on the Mere, 7 Mediterranean Gull were at Holbeck and 500 Pink-footed Geese flew north over Cayton Carr.
Two Green Sandpiper were on Thornton Carr.

Thursday 4th February 2016

One Black-necked Grebe in the Harbour and 2 Pink-footed and 1 Barnacle Goose, 1 Whooper Swan, 8 Shoveler and 3 Goldeneye at Wykeham South lake were the only reports on the 4th.

Wednesday 3rd February 2016

Migration watch; 07.50 – 09.35hrs.
On the move (south unless stated) were 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Fulmar + 4 north, 4 Gannet + 4 north, 1 Cormorant north, 2 Black-headed Gull, 15 Common Gull, 33 Herring Gull + 6 north including 1 argentatus, 2 Great Black-backed Gull + 4 north, 4 Guillemot + 2 north and 2 Razorbill north.
In the Long Nab area were 19 Skylark, 52 Tree Sparrow, 38 Linnet and 2 Lapland Bunting.
Elsewhere2 Barnacle Geese flew south at Scalby Mills while 5 Purple Sandpiper, 32 Redshank and 310 Wigeon were present, there was no sign all day of the drake American Wigeon.
Two Stonechat were in Jackson’s Bay, 44 Teal and 14 Wigeon were on Johnson’s Marsh and 35 Whooper Swan were on Sherburn Ings.

Monday 1st – Tuesday 2nd February 2016

The drake AMERICAN WIGEON continued to show well at Scalby Mills on both dates.

Elsewhere the 1st produced a Red-breasted Merganser in Cayton Bay, a Merlin on Folkton Carr and a Black-necked Grebe in the Harbour.

The 2nd saw 2 Black-necked Grebe in the Harbour, a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Scalby Mills and 2 White-fronted and 1 Pink-footed Goose + a Whooper Swan, 2 Shoveler, 4 Goldeneye, 180 Common Gull, 26 Black-headed gull, 62 Herring Gull and 7 Great Black-backed Gull at Wykeham South Lake.